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Entertainment / Sports / News / TravelThu, 21 Mar 2019 03:00:57 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1Fecal matter found on McDonald’s order touchscreenshttp://www.caribpress.com/fecal-matter-found-on-mcdonalds-recently-introduced-touchscreens/
http://www.caribpress.com/fecal-matter-found-on-mcdonalds-recently-introduced-touchscreens/#commentsSat, 05 Jan 2019 03:10:05 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=60846Traces of faeces have been found on every single McDonald’s touchscreen swabbed in an investigation by metro.co.uk.

Senior lecturer in microbiology at London Metropolitan University Dr Paul Matewele said: “We were all surprised how much gut and faecal bacteria there was on the touchscreen machines. These cause the kind of infections that people pick up in hospitals.”

Every McDonald’s screen that was swabbed was found to have fecal matter on them. The machines have been rolled out in McDonald’s branches across the UK and the US.

Unsuspecting diners choose their food on the touch screens then head to the server to pick up their burgers more often than not without washing their hands.

A screen at one branch was found to have staphylococcus, a bacteria that can cause blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.

Dr Matewele said: ‘Seeing Staphylococcus on these machines is worrying because it is so contagious. ‘It starts around people’s noses, if they touch their nose with their fingers and then transfer it to the touchscreen someone else will get it, and if they have an open cut which it gets into, then it can be dangerous.

Metro.co.uk’s study with the university’s school of human sciences involved swabs taken from eight McDonald’s restaurants. Six in London and two in Birmingham. Listeria bacteria was found in Oxford Street and Holloway Road branches.

It can cause listeriosis which can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women. Dr Matewele said: “Listeria is another rare bacterium we were shocked to find on touchscreen machines as again this can be very contagious and a problem for those with a weak immune system.”

On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Los Angeles County residents will vote on Measure W. If passed by a 2/3rds majority, the measure will establish a parcel tax of 2.5₵ per square foot of impermeable area, except as exempted. “Impermeable Area” is defined by Measure W as “area covered by materials or constructed surfaces such as buildings, roofs, paved roadways, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, brick, asphalt, concrete, pavers, covers, slabs, sheds, pools, and other constructed surfaces. Impermeable Areas do not include permeable surfaces such as vegetated areas, grasses, bushes, shrubs, lawns, bare soil, tree canopy, natural water bodies, wetland areas, gravel, gardens and planters on bare soil, rock shores, and other natural areas.”

If approved by voters, Measure W is expected to raise approximately $300,000,000 per year to fund various water projects throughout the county. The annual parcel tax to homeowners is approximately $83 for a median home. To estimate the parcel tax for a specific property, use the calculator at safecleanwaterla.org. [The calculator is located under the Measure W heading on the website’s home page.]

Proponents of Measure W believe it is necessary to increase local water supplies, help clean contaminated water, and help the region prepare for drought.

Those in opposition to Measure W argue that it is an unnecessary tax and that it’s not clear how much taxpayers will have to pay and that the tax is permanent. They also take issue with the measure because it is not specified which individual projects will be funded by Measure W.

Background

Los Angeles County’s water management system is over 100 years old. When it rains, the system is unable to capture significant amounts of stormwater before it heads untreated to the ocean and other waterways. It is estimated that every year over 100 billion gallons of water in Los Angeles County are lost in this way. This loss of usable water has a significant impact on a water-scarce area such as Los Angeles County. 100 billion gallons is enough to meet the needs of two million county residents for an entire year. Currently, Los Angeles County imports as much as 2/3rds of its water from outside sources.

Additionally, untreated stormwater can pose a serious health hazard to residents and marine animals. This is because the stormwater picks up trash, plastics, and other contaminants as it heads to the ocean. As a result, beach closures often occur after a heavy rain.

(Photo: Robert Wheaton)

Recent projects

LOS ANGELES RIVER TRASH AND DEBRIS COLLECTION SYSTEM

In 2000, the Los Angeles Flood Control District installed the Los Angeles River Trash and Debris Collection System as a pilot demonstration project. Its purpose was to test an innovative technology to capture trash and debris at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. It became an ongoing program in 2003.

According to Los Angeles County Public Works the system “has proven to be effective in improving water quality within the Los Angeles River.”

The system collects approximately 1,200 tons of trash, vegetation, and debris each year.

Public Works plans to extend the system to the east bank of the Los Angeles River. This will allow the system to better redirect trash during storm flows.

THE DOMINGUEZ GAP WETLANDS MULTI-USE PROJECT

The Dominguez Gap Wetlands Multi-Use Project was identified in the 1996 Los Angeles River Master Plan as one of the top five demonstration projects. According to Los Angeles County Public Works it was designed to “provide flood management, water quality, environmental, recreational and educational enhancements.”

The project consisted of converting a 37-acre parcel into wetlands to improve water quality. It also provides a habitat for various plant species and wildlife.

Construction on the project was completed in 2008 at a cost of $7.1 million.

Future improvements include the addition of approximately 60 trees. The new trees will provide increased shade to the habitat and to improve air quality.

Proposed projects eligible for Measure W
(partial list)

COMPTON CREEK PROJECT

This project is located at the site of Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park on East El Segundo Boulevard and Wadsworth Avenue. This $50 million project is designed divert urban and stormwater runoff into a water treatment system as well as other uses.

LADERA PARK STORMWATER CAPTURE PROJECT

The project is designed to capture and infiltrate urban stormwater runoff from the unincorporated are Ladera Heights. The total cost of this project is estimated at $9.5 million.

MONTEITH PARK STORMWATER CAPTURE PROJECT

This project is designed to capture and infiltrate urban stormwater runoff from the unincorporated area of View Park. The total project cost is estimated at $2.5 million.

VIEW PARK GREEN ALLEY PROJECT

This project located in an alley near the corner of South Victoria Avenue and West Mount Vernon Drive in View Park. It will improve water quality by capturing urban stormwater runoff. The total project cost is estimated at $500 thousand.

Funding Breakdown of Measure W

MUNICIPAL PROGRAM – 40% of the program funds return directly to cities and unincorporated areas

REGIONAL PROGRAM – 50% of revenues to fund watershed-based projects with regional benefits

DISTRICT PROGRAM – 10% of revenues to the Los Angeles County Flood Control District

For more information about Measure W and to see additional project examples visit Safe Clean Water L.A. at www.safecleanwaterla.org.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/voters-to-weigh-in-on-clean-water-measure/feed/0Thieves break into Rihanna’s Hollywood Hills Homehttp://www.caribpress.com/thieves-break-into-rihannas-hollywood-hills-home/
http://www.caribpress.com/thieves-break-into-rihannas-hollywood-hills-home/#commentsThu, 27 Sep 2018 05:39:42 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=59904At around 9:30 p.m., Los Angeles police responded after an alarm went off at the home, which is located in the 7800 block of Hillside Avenue.

No one was home at the time, including Rihanna, but that employees were notified of the break-in by a sophisticated alarm system.

Investigators found evidence of a break-in but did not disclose if any items were taken. Police were still on scene as of 5 a.m. Wednesday collecting evidence.

“We were notified due to the sophisticated technology and security and surveillance systems here, of which her representatives have access to,” LAPD Capt. Cory Palka said. “And because of alarms and technology, they were notified while the crime was taking place.”

One of Rihanna’s employees told CBS he boarded up a glass door which was shattered in the back of the home. Neighbors told police they saw the suspects flee in a silver vehicle after the alarms went off.

On May 9, a man broke into Rihanna’s home and spent 12 hours inside. Eduardo Leon of Fullerton was later charged with felony counts of stalking, burglary and vandalism, and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.

There has been a rash of celebrity home burglaries in recent years. On Sept. 18, three burglars who broke into the Encino home of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, at least the fourth time the slugger’s home has been hit by burglars in the past 18 months.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/thieves-break-into-rihannas-hollywood-hills-home/feed/0Governor Brown Signs Money Bail Reform Acthttp://www.caribpress.com/governor-brown-signs-money-bail-reform-act/
http://www.caribpress.com/governor-brown-signs-money-bail-reform-act/#commentsSun, 16 Sep 2018 01:34:17 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=59513On Tuesday, August 28th, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 10 (SB10) also known as the California Money Bail Reform Act. The new law – which will take effect on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 – eliminates the current cash bail system. Under the new system, an assessment of risk to public safety and probability of missing a court date will be used to determine a defendant’s custody status while they await trial rather than their ability to post bail.

“Today, California reforms its bail system so that rich and poor alike are treated fairly,” said Governor Brown in a statement.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda). On Monday, August 20th, the Assembly passed the bill 42-31 with seven abstaining. The following day, the Senate voted 26-12 to pass the bill with two not voting.

“This is a transformative day for our justice system. Our old system of money bail was outdated, unsafe, and unfair. It took a three-branch solution with Governor Brown, the Legislature led by Senator Hertzberg and Assemblymember Bonta, and the Judicial Council’s Administrative Director Martin Hoshino working with judges in my Pretrial Detention Reform Work Group to bring about a fair and just solution for all Californians,” said Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

A strip mall of bail bond establishments located on North Vignes Street opposite the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles (PHOTO: Robert Wheaton, CaribPress)

As expected, the bail bond industry is not happy with the bill:

“The law will put tens of thousands of criminals back on the streets,” said Jeffrey Stanley, owner of Bad Boy Bail Bonds, to the Los Angeles Times. “I think it was irresponsible of the legislature to pass this bill.”

Quentin L. Kopp, a retired Superior Court Judge, wrote an Op-Ed in the San Francisco Examiner last year in which he described SB10 as “one of the most dangerous and misleading legislative efforts I’ve seen in more than 50 years as a criminal and civil trial lawyer and 10 years as a California Superior Court judge. ”

Opponents of the bill are behind a referendum drive to prevent the law from taking effect. If they are able to obtain the required 366,000 signatures within three months, it will prevent the law from taking effect on schedule. If they succeed, the referendum would go to the voters on the 2020 ballot.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/governor-brown-signs-money-bail-reform-act/feed/0Los Angeles County Supervisors Act on Prison Reform Measurehttp://www.caribpress.com/los-angeles-county-supervisors-act-on-prison-reform-measure/
http://www.caribpress.com/los-angeles-county-supervisors-act-on-prison-reform-measure/#commentsFri, 14 Sep 2018 00:13:25 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=59415On Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 supporters of Reform L.A. Jails, attended a meeting of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to see how close their measure will be toward implementation. The measure which has received approximately 247,000 signatures, qualifies for the March 2020 ballot. The Board of Supervisors has the power to vote the measure into law, order an impact report, or send the measure to the voters.

“The Reform L.A. Jails initiative is the most comprehensive measure to end L.A. County’s addiction to incarceration while also building towards greater accountability for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.” — Patrisse Cullors, Reform L.A. Jails

The Board decided to order a study to determine what impacts the measure will have on the County. They now have until October 11 to either adopt the measure or to send it to the voters for the March 2020 election.

“I’ve spent the last decade working on criminal justice reform in Los Angeles County,” said Reform L.A. Jails Campaign Chairperson Patrisse Cullors in a published statement. “The Reform L.A. Jails initiative is the most comprehensive measure to end L.A. County’s addiction to incarceration while also building towards greater accountability for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. We are living in a historical moment. I am urging the five members of the Board of Supervisors to adopt the Reform L.A. Jails initiative while they still have the chance to. If they don’t, the people of Los Angeles County will. Over 247,000 of us have already spoken.”

More than 150 organizations and community leaders have endorsed the Reform L.A. Jails Campaign. For more information about the initiative, you can visit their website at www.ReformLAJails.com.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/los-angeles-county-supervisors-act-on-prison-reform-measure/feed/0Criminal Justice Measure Qualifies for L.A. County Ballothttp://www.caribpress.com/criminal-justice-measure-qualifies-for-l-a-county-ballot/
http://www.caribpress.com/criminal-justice-measure-qualifies-for-l-a-county-ballot/#commentsSun, 09 Sep 2018 22:53:39 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=59240On Friday, September 7, 2018, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk officially qualified the Reform L.A. Jails initiative to appear on the March 2020 Presidential Primary ballot. Organizers of the initiative obtained 247,315 signatures, which is more than 100,000 that is required to qualify for the ballot. The purpose of the initiative is to establish a citizen oversight committee to investigate deputy misconduct in Los Angeles County jails and to investigate alternatives to incarceration for vulnerable population groups, such as the homeless and mentally ill.

“The time is now to reform America’s largest jail system and to root out misconduct in America’s largest sheriff’s department.” - Jasmyne Cannick

As a result, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors must either adopt the measure or submit the measure to the public for a vote. They may also order a report on the measure prior to making a final decision. The decision to order the report, adopt the measure, or submit to voters must be made at their September 11th meeting.

“The People of Los Angeles County have spoken,” said Campaign Director Jasmyne Cannick. “The time is now to reform America’s largest jail system and to root out misconduct in America’s largest sheriff’s department. Our broad and diverse community achieved something truly phenomenal in submitting far more than enough signatures for this historic measure. We hope that the Board of Supervisors adopts Reform L.A. Jails as law at its next meeting but if it doesn’t, we look forward to victory at the ballot in 2020 because the People have spoken.”

More than 150 organizations and community leaders have endorsed the Reform L.A. Jails Campaign. For more information about the initiative, you can visit their website at www.ReformLAJails.com.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/criminal-justice-measure-qualifies-for-l-a-county-ballot/feed/0Rare Flesh-Eating STD discovered in the UKhttp://www.caribpress.com/rare-flesh-eating-std-discovered-in-the-uk/
http://www.caribpress.com/rare-flesh-eating-std-discovered-in-the-uk/#commentsThu, 23 Aug 2018 20:53:47 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=58996A woman in Southport, England has been diagnosed with a rare sexually transmitted disease that causes flesh-eating ulcers to break out on an infected person’s genitalia, the Lancashire Post reported today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flesh-eating STD known as donovanosis (granuloma inguinale), is spread by an uninfected person having sexual intercourse with someone who is infected, or by coming in contact with an infected person’s weeping ulcer.

The CDC says symptoms of donovanosis include progressive ulcerative lesions on an infected person’s genitals, or perineum – both areas that are prone to heavy bleeding. The disease is rarely found in the United States and United Kingdom, but it is endemic to many tropical and developing areas, including India; Papau New Guinea; the Caribbean, central Australia, and southern Africa.

Doctors say patients in the US and UK who are exposed to donovanosis often occur after they have unprotected sex in endemic countries.

The woman’s condition rare diagnosis was exposed after a website, chemist-4-u-.com submitted a Freedom of Information request as part of their investigation into STIs and STDs in the United Kingdom.

Antibiotic treatment is used to help stop the progression of the ulcers, but patients are at risk of relapsing within six to 18 months following treatment for the disease.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/rare-flesh-eating-std-discovered-in-the-uk/feed/0Home prices still on the rise in L.A. Countyhttp://www.caribpress.com/home-prices-still-on-the-rise-in-l-a-county/
http://www.caribpress.com/home-prices-still-on-the-rise-in-l-a-county/#commentsTue, 24 Jul 2018 20:29:50 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=58500LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The median price of a home in Los Angeles County rose by 8 percent in June, compared with the same month a year earlier, a real estate information service announced today.

According to CoreLogic, the median price of a Los Angeles County home was $615,000 last month, up from $569,250 in June 2017. A total of 7,569 homes were sold in the county, down 13.5 percent from 8,751 during the same month the previous year.

In Orange County, the median price was $739,000 last month, up 6 percent from $697,000 in June 2017. The number of homes sold dropped by 8.5 percent, from 3,804 in June 2017 to 3,482 last month.

A total of 22,706 new and resale houses and condos changed hands in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month, according to CoreLogic. That was down 1.1 percent from 22,948 in May, and down 11.8 percent from 25,738 in June 2017.

The median price of a Southern California home was a record $536,250 in June, up 1.2 percent from $530,000 in May and up 7.3 percent from $500,000 in June 2017.

“A portion of last month’s year-over-year sales decline reflects one less business day for deals to be recorded compared with June 2017,” said Andrew LePage, research analyst with CoreLogic. “But affordability and inventory constraints are likely the main culprits in last month’s sales slowdown, which applied to all six of the region’s counties and across most of the major price categories.”

PR veteran Ellene V. Miles is joining Sony Pictures’ motion picture marketing team in the newly created position of senior vp intersectional marketing, charged with creating multicultural and inclusion-based strategies for all the studio’s films.

Miles, who will take up the new post on Aug. 13, will report to Andre Caraco, co-president of domestic marketing, and Paul Martin, who heads Sony’s corporate diversity and inclusion office.

Describing Miles’ role in a staff memo Tuesday, Caraco said she “will craft broad, 360-degree diversity-based marketing strategies that will inform all facets of our film campaigns including publicity, creative, digital, media, research and promotions. The role will connect and align these operations in this space to ensure our campaigns achieve maximum exposure to the widest possible audiences.”

Miles most recently served as vp of Terry Hines and Associates’ targeted marketing division, the MRKT, with which Sony has had a long-standing relationship, and as principal and founder of EV Miles Media, a specialized media relations agency. Prior to that, she was director of publicity and programming at director Ava DuVernay’s Agency, launching film and television titles including “Girlfriends”, “Dreamgirls” and “Collateral”, and was publicity director at Atlanta-based entertainment and lifestyle marketing agency Liquid Soul Media.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/58359/feed/0Kids Week Returns to Southland Mallhttp://www.caribpress.com/kids-week-returns-to-southland-mall/
http://www.caribpress.com/kids-week-returns-to-southland-mall/#commentsFri, 13 Jul 2018 19:09:55 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=58292The festivities kick off on Monday, July 23rd at Center Court with an interactive program of arts and crafts hosted by the Miami Children’s Museum from 12–4 p.m. Also on Monday, the Miami HEAT will be giving away tickets to their pre-season games in October.

Other activities and programs throughout the week include painting workshops, music, games and prize giveaways from the Miami Marlins Street Team, a theatre show, a children’s magic show and a line dancing event hosted by the Southside Stampede on July 27th at 6 p.m. Kids Week comes to an end on July 28th with the grand finale featuring ZOO Miami, a talent show presented by Superstar Productions and a children’s fashion show by Macy’s all from 1 -3 p.m.

“Southland Mall is excited to continue the Kids Week tradition with our community every summer,” said Maggie Anzardo, marketing director at Southland Mall. “It’s a great event for families as well as the perfect opportunity for parents to get school shopping started before the summer ends.”

Rounding out the summer fun is the ‘Summer Movie Express’ from Regal Cinemas, featuring select $1 movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through August 15th, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Will Rogers Institute.

Southland Mall, located in South Miami-Dade County, Florida, the densest, most populous county in the southeastern portion of the state of Florida.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/kids-week-returns-to-southland-mall/feed/0Oakland Zoo Opens 56-acre California Trail Expansionhttp://www.caribpress.com/oakland-zoo-opens-56-acre-california-trail-expansion/
http://www.caribpress.com/oakland-zoo-opens-56-acre-california-trail-expansion/#commentsFri, 13 Jul 2018 09:13:44 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=58295Almost three years since breaking ground and more than two decades in the making, Oakland Zoo’s highly anticipated California Trail opens to the public on July 12, 2018. The expansion more than doubles the Zoo’s current size from 45 acres to 100 acres. Eight new native California animal species, each selected for their historical significance to our state and status in the wild, have settled into their expansive new habitats – among the largest in the world and designed under the collaboration of animal behavior experts, wildlife experts, and notable habitat design experts. These species are American buffalo, Black bears, Grizzly Bears, Brown bears, Mountain lions, Jaguars, California condors, Gray wolves and Bald eagles.

California Trail is accessed by 24 eight-passenger open-air gondolas – ADA-accessible, and all-electric – custom-made by Austrian-Swiss Company, Doppelmayer. The gondolas transport guests on a four-minute ride up and over the rolling hills of Knowland Park to the California Trail site from the main Zoo. There, at 650 feet above sea-level, the gondolas arrive at the 3-story Kaiser Permanente Visitor Center, which houses The Landing Cafe, a floor-to-ceiling glass-walled 176-seat restaurant serving artisan menu items not available elsewhere in the Zoo. An observation deck at the restaurant provides panoramic views of six Bay Area counties. Guests can enjoy chef-inspired cuisine while taking in breathtaking views.

The California Trail also includes the interactive Clorox Overnight Experience ‘safari-style’ campground, the interactive California Conservation Habitarium, California Wilds! Playground, a one-of-a-kind play zone where children can mountain-climb, zip-line, and splash in five play zones inspired by the different ecological zones that the California Trail animals call home.

The Conservation Society of California, managing the Oakland Zoo, has made wildlife and ecology conservation forefront to the California Trail through the stories of the animals and what we can do to ensure the survival of their counterparts in the wild.
Many of the animals at California Trail come from rescue situations managed by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, where re-release into the wild was not possible due to no chance of survival following rehabilitation. These animals would have been euthanized if suitable placements were not found.

“The California Trail at Oakland Zoo is unique. Beyond the gondola ride, spectacular views, and our many rescued animals in their expansive habitats – this is about inspiring people to connect with our state’s remarkable biodiversity and how to live with wildlife so we can protect their futures,” Dr. Joel Parrott, President & CEO of Oakland Zoo / Conservation Society of California.

Two Grizzly / Brown bear cubs, all orphans, and all males over one year of age arrived on May 25th. Two California Condors arrived on May 10, from the San Diego Zoo and the Oregon Zoo. A Condor specialist from U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the lead biologist from Oakland Zoo’s conservation partner, the Ventana Wildlife Society in Big Sur, were present to oversee their arrival and release into their new 17,945 cubic foot aviary. The birds, with a 10 foot wingspan, were once critically endangered with only 22 left in the wild. Four female Bald eagles will arrive the week of June 25 from the Raptor Education Center in Wisconsin. All of these birds are rescues from the wild and unable to survive on their own.

Three Mountain lions cubs, two male and one female, were brought to the Zoo in December of last year by the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in very ill condition. Through the attentive care of Zoo vets and animal keepers, Toro, Silverado, and Coloma have grown healthy and strong over the past few months and have created a tight bond with one another in their new home – of which their hammock made of firehouse by animal keepers seems to be a favorite for lounging.

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/oakland-zoo-opens-56-acre-california-trail-expansion/feed/0Emmett Till investigation reopens decades after his murderhttp://www.caribpress.com/emmett-till-investigation-reopens-decades-after-his-murder/
http://www.caribpress.com/emmett-till-investigation-reopens-decades-after-his-murder/#commentsThu, 12 Jul 2018 18:00:03 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=58284The federal government has quietly revived its investigation into the murder of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old African-American boy whose abduction and killing in 1955 remains among the starkest and most searing examples of racial violence in the South.

The 1955 slaying was listed in a March report among “activities” the department was pursuing under the 2007 unsolved civil rights crime act that bears Emmett’s name. The act paves the way for the department to “expeditiously investigate” unsolved pre-1980 civil rights murders.

But the Justice Department’s decision to devote new attention to the case is a demonstration of how deeply the episode resonates more than 60 years after Emmett was killed in rural Mississippi and photographs of his mutilated body were published, so staggering the nation that the case is now seen as a catalyst for the civil rights movement.

Emmett was from Chicago and had been visiting relatives in the Mississippi Delta when he went into a store and encountered one of its owners, a white woman who ultimately complained that the teenager had grabbed her and made crude sexual remarks. He was kidnapped and killed days later, his body tethered to a cotton gin fan with barbed wire and then cast into a river.

Los Angeles, CA – The dangerously triple digits heat wave now experiencing by Southern California residents have sparks wildfires across five LA counties has resulted in massive evacuations and leave homes burnt down in communities such as Granada Hills, Pacific Palisades, Burbank, Chatsworth and Glassell Park.

Assessor Jeff Prang said, “wildfires cause major damage, and in some cases, devastating losses. The destruction of homes in particular is having a profound impact on the lives our friends and neighbors.” “Taxpayers whose properties have been destroyed or severely damaged by these fires may be eligible for disaster relief on annual property tax bills, including in some cases refunds of taxes already paid,” he advised.

Fortunately, no one lost their lives. And although the LA County fires were not as severe as other parts of Southern California, the disaster relief available to property owners through the office of Assessor Prang is to ease the overwhelming hardships that these families face as they struggle to rebuild their homes and their lives.

Fire victims can file claims for Misfortune & Calamity Relief within a year, properties that have sustained a minimum of $10,000 in damage may be eligible for a refund of taxes already paid and lower annual tax bills until the property is repaired or rebuilt.

Assessor Prang’s office is working proactively in conjunction with fire department officials from various jurisdictions to determine which properties are affected. “As fires are extinguished and recovery begins, call our Disaster Relief Hotline at 213/974-8658, stop by one of our field offices across the county, visit us online, or connect with us on social media @LACAssessor,” Prang said.

He continued, “My dedicated team is ready to offer assistance at a moment’s notice and has a designated hotline specifically tasked with guiding property owners through the claim submission process.”

]]>http://www.caribpress.com/la-property-owners-offer-disaster-relief/feed/012-Year-Old Boy’s gardening business grows after neighbor alerted policehttp://www.caribpress.com/12-year-old-boys-gardening-business-grows-after-neighbor-alerted-police/
http://www.caribpress.com/12-year-old-boys-gardening-business-grows-after-neighbor-alerted-police/#commentsSat, 30 Jun 2018 17:02:34 +0000http://www.caribpress.com/?p=58100A 12-year-old boy’s lawn care business is booming after a neighbor called the cops on him while the child was cutting the lawn of a customer. Reggie Fields and his family members were cutting the lawn of Lucille Holt when they got a visit from the Maple Hills Police Department because they had accidentally mowed a small portion Holt’s neighbor’s lawn.Holt saw police and stepped outside to broadcast the encounter on Facebook LIVE. In the two-and-half-minute video, Holt explains that her neighbor called the cops when one of the kids mowed a small portion of the wrong lawn. Holt pointed out that it wasn’t the first time her neighbor has called the police on her over small things.Near the end of the video, a police officer asks her to step inside so he can speak to her and prevent any escalation between Holt and her neighbor.
Maple Heights Police Department Lieutenant Joe Mocsiran told Fox News that the young entrepreneur is not in any trouble with the police.

“A little kid is out there working hard — heck no,” he said, explaining that it’s difficult to tell where one person’s lawn starts and another ends in the neighborhood where the incident occurred.

After the story went viral, Fields’ business, Mr. Reggie’s Lawn Cutting Service, has seen a major boost in business. Holt told WEWS that people have been reaching out to her to get in touch with Reggie because they have property they want him to mow.

Reggie has been getting calls from all over the city and said that he plans to use the money he earns to buy more equipment to expand his business.

Reggie told any potential customers to give him a call and promised that he will be there on time.

“Too” is about celebrating the LGBTQ community, families of all kinds and showing that love is everywhere. Through the book, readers follow the adventures of Joy and Maya with their families during the Pride celebration at the New York Central Park.

The book illustrates the acceptance of all cultures, the LGBTQ community and different sorts of families that come together to celebrate. Madden believes that “Too” will appeal to anyone who has a family, has a different sort of family or who has a loving community as their family.

“I do not write adversity. I am simply showing what different forms of love looks like. It is a book about the LGBTQ community in picture form and there aren’t a lot out there right now,” Madden says.

With the goal of showing families and children of all cultures to “embrace their humanity,” “Too” reminds readers that “love is love – and you can never have too much of it.”